WASHINGTON—Attending his first match since becoming an investor in D.C. United, Jason Levien was presented with a gift by fans in the RFK Stadium parking lot on Saturday evening.

“They gave me a machete. They handed me a real machete,” Levien told Sporting News. “I told everyone, ‘We’ve got to start making plastic machetes with D.C. United on them.’ But right now, they gave me a real one. I’m a little nervous. I told them we’re going to need them to be vocal, to be supportive, to have our backs to do this.”

The “this” to which Levien referred is the construction of a permanent home for United, which now plays in MLS’s oldest facility and which has been left frustrated and floundering as rival clubs have successfully constructed modern soccer-specific stadiums.

United has been trying to secure its own stadium for more than a decade. But despite its overflowing trophy case and reputation as one of American soccer’s most prestigious organizations, it’s been thwarted time and again by financial concerns, a fickle real estate market and a city government notorious for its inscrutable behavior.

“And we also know that we’re going to have to use our machetes together and we’re ready to do so,” he continued. “We know there are going to be some hurdles along the way, but we’re excited and energized to take them on.”

So are United’s fans. Hence the big blade presented to Levien, 40, on Saturday.

Now it’s time to start hacking away.

Speaking to Sporting News during Saturday night’s exhibition against French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain, Levien said he had two significant sports memories from his time in Washington in the 1990s: The construction of the Verizon Center and “D.C. United’s dominance.”

Working as an attorney after graduating from the University of Michigan law school, Levien had an office just a short walk away from the site of the future home of the NHL’s Capitals and NBA’s Wizards. It was a largely derelict area located only a half-dozen blocks from the National Mall. Last Friday, he had dinner at a restaurant adjacent to the arena, which now is the glittering hub of a neighborhood filled with eateries, bars and shops unimaginable 20 years ago.

Levien’s goal: Marry his two memories and lead the charge toward a similar future for United, which has been forced to look toward the suburbs and even to Baltimore as its desperation for a home it can call its own has increased.

Now, with Levien’s expertise and the financial heft of his partner, Indonesian media magnate Erick Thohir, United can focus once again on the city with more optimism than ever. The pair reportedly now hold a majority of the club, with former owner Will Chang, a California-based businessman, retaining a minority stake. Forbes recently valued United at $50 million, but that’s almost certainly low—especially considering the upside offered by a new stadium.

Levien is the face of the group. He worked as an agent after leaving his D.C. law firm and represented NBA players like Luol Deng, Kevin Martin, Udonis Haslem and Hedo Turkoglu. He parlayed that work into an executive position with the Sacramento Kings and in 2011 he was part of a consortium (along with Thohir) who bought into the Philadelphia 76ers.

But Levien’s sports acumen is just part of the reason he’ll be wielding that machete. Levien also is a seasoned political operative, having worked as a Democratic strategist and speechwriter. He spent time in the Clinton White House and has the personable, smooth demeanor of someone accustomed to making his case, making new friends and forging consensus.

“I don’t think it’s that complicated,” he said of the task ahead. “I think I lucked out because I’m in a situation where I walked in and the groundwork has been laid in terms of momentum in the community, what this organization has done in the community. Every (city) council member knows about it. They talk about D.C. United.”

But that doesn’t mean they want to help.

Thohir, Chang and Levien are willing to foot the bill for the stadium, but they need help from the city in the form of land—preferably near mass transit—and significant infrastructure improvements. D.C. is a city with plenty of problems and helping wealthy men build stadiums isn’t an easy sell, but Verizon Center’s obvious success and the increasing optimism surrounding the Washington Nationals, who play in a $600 million city-owned facility, should bolster Levien’s efforts.

“My first meeting was with (veteran D.C. council member) Jack Evans, and I walked in prepared to say, ‘Here’s why we need a stadium and here’s why we need your help,’ and I couldn’t get it out because he said, ‘You guys have been great in the community. We’re behind you. We’ve got to get this done. Let’s do it quickly,’ ” Levien said.

“I thought we had a very productive meeting with (Mayor Vincent Gray),” he continued. “His frame of mind is that he wants to be supportive and the best thing about it was that as we were wrapping up, I was about to say, ‘How do we follow up?’ Before I got the words out of my mouth he said, ‘Can we sit down next week with our team and really work with you?’ That made me feel good.”

The prime target for the stadium is Buzzard Point, a small peninsula on the Anacostia River close to Nationals Park. Levien said there is no need to “overcomplicate” the proposed soccer stadium. Amenities are great and he cares deeply about rewarding United fans for their patience and constructing a technologically and environmentally modern facility that won’t be obsolete in 20 years. But he won’t sacrifice location for bells and whistles. “D.C.” remains the most important part of the club’s name.

“I said to the mayor, they built a terrific park for America’s pastime and it’s beautiful and doing well. Now we need to build that kind of stadium that’s a home for the international pastime,” Levien said.

United’s bid for a stadium has featured far more stops than starts.

The quest has become a source of exasperation for MLS executives, who have watched as a club that once was the shining example of what soccer could be in the U.S. has slipped down the pecking order. Commissioner Don Garber told Sporting News recently that his office “has worked tirelessly in D.C., perhaps on the stadium front more than any other market in the last 10 years, to try to support their efforts.”

Levien and Thohir represent the last best chance for United—the league’s most decorated club—to stake its claim. Garber played a significant role in facilitating their investment, and now he’ll be counting on them, along with United’s fans, to find a solution to a problem that has vexed everyone for years. The machete is ready.

“I feel like I’m never going to get a great night’s sleep until we have this planned, so for my health’s sake I can’t let it go too long,” Levien said. “I feel a tremendous amount of internal pressure to get it done, but that’s what I wanted. Erick will (feel it), we all do. I love this organization, and to have the chance to be able to move it forward is the opportunity of a lifetime for me.”